Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-19
A SURPRISE.

IedkV ana snort handed OlI DING called
the Plover, when our water gave out to
the last quart. We were hosting out the
last cask when some of the tackle broke
and it fell with a smash, and there we
were, thirty miles to the west Of the
northernmost part of Sumatra, with
hardly enough water aboard TO dampen d
mans tongue.
/ am writing of the days before PliTn-
soil and other British humanitarians en-
tered the ring TO fight for sailors rights.
We had come out deeply loaded, one man
short, and with such grub as would breed
4 mutiny in twenty-four hours today.
/ was chief mate of the Ployer, and
while | could not openly sympathfze with
the crew, nor openly condemn the owners
for their avaTice, l endeavored to alleviate
the situation by refusing to work the men
except when work was necessity. A
bullying mate could have made the PIover
a floating hell When the accident hap
pened which deprived Us Of our last gill
of water, the captain was for standing on
until we could signal some vessel and
secure cask but after we had talked the
matter over he concluded, especially as
the wind WIS fair, TO run for Banjo
Island. This is the southernmost island
Of the Andaman group, and no matter
what the name on the maps and charts, it
has been known as Banjo Island to all
sailors for the last half century. At that
time we did not know whether it was in
habited or not, but had reason TO believe
that we could procure fresh water there.
1t was in the afternoon that we ran
short of water. 1t was after 9 o'clock
next morning when we came TO anchor in
he. r.s,1 ..,fT
Island, about half a mile from the shore.
We fired off q musket half dozen times,
got two casks overheard, and then waited
10 see if the natives would not come out
to us. The promise Of three or four ships
spikes would have induced a score Of na-
lives to fill the casks. After an hours
waiting no one had appeared, and the cap
tain concluded that the island was not
inhabited. a careful survey Of the beach
with the ships glass had located spot
where fresh water stream seemed to
empty into the sea, and that was the
point was TO make for. AS the boat was
lowered away the captain said:
'Mr. Jordon, I've heard that the ma
tives in these parts are bad lot. While
this place seems to be clear of them, they
may be lying in ambush to surprise you.
You had best take a couple of mUskets
along for use in case you are attacked,
and you'll throw some things into the
boat for barter, if they are friendly and
want to trade"
AS l was busy getting the boat down
and line around one OF the casks l did
not notice what he put into the boat On
the way ashore I overhauled the STUFF,
however, and found half dozen iron
hoops, eight spikes and q lot of trinkets.
There was no fixed ammunition for tae
mUskets, but some of the men had put in
tin box in which there were bullets,
percussion caps and powder--at least q
couple OF pounds of the last. 1t was a
box brought from locker III the cabin
! loaded the nluSkets on the way in, and
had hardly finished when we Were at the
beach AS there was no surf, we ran the
boat UP on the sand to the right of small
rIVulet, which cut its way through the
beach to the sea. The glass had not de-
celved LIS. Here was fresh water, and |
here we could fill the casks without trou-
bic. set the men at this latter task and |
stepped ashore. The island was heavily /
timbered, and the luXuriant growth of |
vines and creepers extended quite down |
to the narrow strip of sand. There were /
parrots and other birds in plenty, and, /
carrying musket on my shoulder, .
walked along the narrow beach for about |
a hundred yards, hoping TO get shot at |
game Of some sort. After going about /
this distance l found an opening by which |
/ could enter the forest. 1t seemed to be |
an old path. Had ii been hard beaten, or
had there been signs that it had lately
been Travelled, l should have hesitated to
advance. The two sailors were laughing
and joking as they filed the casks, the
woods echoing the notes of birds, and |
had come TO the conclusion that the island
was uninhabited by man. / had entered
the forest perhaps 500 feet, and had nv
eyes on the watch ahead, when felt a
crash, everything turned dark, and the
next thing ] knew / opened my eyes TO
find half a dozen natives about NE, while
was lying on the ground, bound hand
and foot. 1 had been carried some dis
lance while insensible, for was now in
dell or glade.
] had received blow on the head with
D club, and my senses came back slowly.
had no more than fully comprehended
what had occurred when the TWO sailors.
with all the stuff from the boat were
brought in The men had their hands tied
behind their backs, and though neither
had been hurt they were very much fright
ened. l now made a count of the natives
and it footed up twenty-seven. They
we're Maiays, bred and born. and were
armed with creeses, blow guns and spears.
had been knocked over without seeing a
native. Later on they had stolen in on
The sailors so quietly that their presence
vas unsupported until they Sprang ont Of
The forest and made the men prisoners.
Il the incident had been observed from
he brig, no euttry mad been made by
hose on board. The men had Just been
brought up, when the leader Of the Malays
gave me couple of kicks as hint that
We must be moving. and at the same time
he cut the cords which bound my ankles
md jerked NE to my feet ! was sGn
yroggy from the effects of the blow. and
ny head swan as we pushed into she
woods, and hurried slong as if the fellows
expected pursuit. We did not go more
kan q couple OF miles. however. before
re came 10 a village. and that was the end
II our journey. The place contained
Ibout thirty hurs, which were occupied by
he men who captured us ! saw about
twenty women and children, but thew
we're not allowed to come near Us. and we
we're hustled into hut almost as soon as
We entered the tt,wn Then half a dozen
men left the village, apparently as mes g
engerS, while those who remained gath s
red around small Gre in IN open place Y
irectly IN front ef our hut. They had ;,
ne oox OF powder, the muSketS and the =,
.inkets, ana they gestured and jabbered !,
ke SO many women. They knew what ;,
reaCn1s We're, es was evinced by the way :
aey handled them. and II was certain "
1ey were highly pleased with the trinkets, I